GB2332044A

GB2332044A - Electroluminescent strip hazard light

Info

Publication number: GB2332044A
Application number: GB9826827A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Matthew Watson; Lennox Mark Huck
Original assignee: MINIFLAME Ltd
Current assignee: MINIFLAME Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-05
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 1999-06-09
Also published as: GB2332044A9; GB9826827D0; GB9725906D0

Abstract

A hazard warning light 2 comprising a strip 6 of electroluminescent material 8. The strip 6 is preferably flexible and may be bent to form a tube or wrapped around a tube such as a scaffolding pole 4 or road cone (18 fig 2) or may extend horizontally to form a barrier (36 fig 6). The strip 6 is preferably battery 14 powered with an invertor and may provide a pulsing or continuous light. The strip 6 may be in roll form on a reel which can be rolled up manually or automatically. The electroluminescent material 8 preferably comprises a dielectric layer and a phosphor layer sandwiched between two conducting surfaces.

Description

1 EQUIPblENT FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR OF BUILDINGS, PLACES OR

VEHICLES 2332044 This invention relates to equipment for -use in construction or repair of buildings, places or vehicles.

Equipment for use in the construction or repair of buildings or places is well known. Examples of such equipment are scaffolding, road cones and barriers. It is known to provide such equipment with at least one hazard warning light. The warning light is usually a battery powered lamp. The battery powered lamp is often not satisfactory in that it provides a point source of light which may not sufficiently indicate the size of the equipment and/or may only be visible from a narrow approach angle to the equipment.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided equipment for use in the construction or repair of buildings, places or vehicles, which equipment is provided with at least one hazard warning light, the hazard warning light being such that it is a strip of light which is made of an electroluminescent material.

Preferably, the strip of light is flexible.

2 The equipment may be scaffolding, and the strip of light may bend around a tube forming part of the scaffolding. The scaf f olding may be in the f orm of scaffolding assembled on site or scaffolding in the form of a work tower. The strip of light may be wrapped around the tube or, alternatively, the strip of light may be in the form of a sleeve which is slid over the tube.

The equipment may alternatively be a road cone, and the strip of light may extend around the road cone. The strip of light may be wrapped around the cone or, alternatively, the strip of light may be in the form of a frusto-cone which is slid over the cone.

The equipment may still further be a barrier, for example a barrier to road works or pavement works. The strip of light may extend along a horizontal part of the barrier or, alternatively, the strip of light may extend around a vertical part of the barrier.

Usually, the strip of light will be battery powered. Also, the strip of light will be battery powered by an inverter.

In one example of the present invention, the hazard warning light is mounted on a strip of i 3 material, and the strip of material is in roll form on a reel.

The reel may be such that the strip of material is manually rolled on the reel. Advantageously, the reel is an inertia reel so that the strip of material can automatically roll up when it is no longer required in its un-rolled form for hazard warning purposes.

The inertia reel may advantageously be mounted on the back of vehicles such for example as construction vehicles and repair vehicles. If the reel, for example an inertia reel, is secured to the rear of the vehicle, then the strip of material with the strip of light can easily be pulled out to a required length to give the required hazard warning, for example around an emergency repair of a building or place, an emergency repair around a vehicle, or a hazard warning around a broken down vehicle or an accident.

The end of the strip of material remote f rom the reel can advantageously be connected to an upstanding device such for example as a movable traffic cone.

If desired, the reel may be mounted on a post. The strip of material can then be unrolled from the reel and the f ree end of the strip of material can be connected to another post. Thus the pulled out strip 4 of material extending between two posts can act as a barrier fitted with a hazard warning light.

The strip of light can be arranged to give a continuous light or a pulsing light.

- The equipment may include an electrical circuit for the strip of light, the electrical circuit being such as to cause the strip of light to emit a continuous light. Alternatively, the equipment may include an electrical circuit for the strip of light, the electrical circuit being such as to cause the strip of light to emit a pulsating light. Where the electronic circuit causes the strip of light to emit pulsating light, then the electronic circuit may include timer means for causing the pulsating light. An electronic circuit giving the pulsating light will normally use less current than an electronic circuit giving the continuous light. For example, the light may be pulsed so that it is on for one second and off for two seconds. Advantageously, a pro rata saving in electricity may occur.

The electroluminescent material may comprise a dielectric layer with a light-emitting phosphor layer sandwiched between two conductive surfaces. The primary purpose of the dielectric layer is to allow the electroluminescent strip of light to withstand voltages without shorting between the conductive i surfaces. The electroluminescent strip of light illuminates when powered with alternating current, for example from the above mentioned battery and inverter.

In one example of the present invention, the hazard warning light is such that it bears printing, for example screen warning/instructions/information least one sign and/or at least one word may thus easily be provided on the equipment of the invention.

In another example of the present invention, the strip of light is configured to the shape of at least one sign and/or at least one word. With such the equipment can give a warning, an or any other suitable and appropriate printing. A in the form of at configuring instruction, information.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows first equipment of the invention in the form of scaffolding; Figure 2 shows second equipment of the invention in the form of a road cone; Figure 3 shows part of the road cone shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the strip of light used in the equipment shown in Figures 1 - 3; 6 Figure 5 is an inside view of the strip of light shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows third equipment in the f orm of a barrier; Figure 7 shows a strip of light attached to a horizontal part of the barrier shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates in more detail how the strip of light is attached to the barrier as shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an end view of the strip of light and the part of the barrier as shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows electrical components of the strip of light for the barrier shown in Figure 6; Figure 11 shows fourth equipment in the form of a barrier; Figure 12 shows an electrical circuit for the strip of light shown in Figures 1 - 11; Figure 13 shows the equipment in roll form and fitted to the rear of a breakdown vehicle; Figure 14 shows the equipment in roll form and fitted to a post; and Figure 15 shows equipment in roll form and fitted to a post.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown equipment 2 which is for use in the construction or repair of buildings or places and which is in the form of i 7 scaffolding. Part of a tube 4 f orming part of the scaffolding is shown. The tube 4 is provided with a hazard warning light in the form of a strip of light 6. The strip of light 6 is made of an electroluminescent material. More specifically, the strip of light 6 comprises an electroluminescent strip 8 mounted on a flexible support material 10. The support material 10 is secured to the tube 4 by a locking screw 12. Power for the elect rolumine scent strip 8 is provided by a battery (not shown) and an inverter (not shown) housed in a power pack housing 14.

Figures 2 and 3 show equipment 16 which is f or use in the construction or repair of buildings or places and which is in the form of a road cone. The road cone comprises a standard road cone 18 over which is slipped a frusto-conical sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 includes a strip of light 6 which is constructed as described above for Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows how the strip of light 6 used in Figures 1 - 3 can be in the form of an elongate strip which passes around the tube 4 or the road cone 18 and which is then connected to itself by press studs 22. The support material 10 may be high visibility support material. The strip of light 6 may also include a strip of reflective material 24 as shown in Figure 4.

8 Figure 5 shows the inside of the strip of material 6 shown in Figure 4. It will be seen that power is provided via a battery 26 and an inverter 28. The inverter 28 provides alternating current for the electroluminescent strip 8. A switch 30 is provided for switching the strip of light 6 on and off.

Figure 6 shows equipment 32 in the form barrier. The barrier shown is in the shape of a of a square, for example for fitting around a hole in a road or pavement. The barrier comprises four upstanding posts 34 which support between them horizontal barrier boards 36. The outer faces of the boards 36 are each provided with a strip of light 6 which extends longitudinally rather than in a circle as described in previous Figures.

As can be seen f rom Figure 7, the strip of light 6 comprises an electroluminescent strip 8 which is encapsulated in support material 10 in the form of extruded clear polyvinyl chloride.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate in more detail the shape of the support material 10 and how it has a flat base 38 provided with double sided adhesive tape which enables the base 38 to be fixed to the desired surface 40 of the board 36.

The e 1 ect rolumines cent strip 8 shown in Figure 9 is of circular cross section. If desired, the i 9 electroluminescent strip 8 may alternatively be of a substantially flat construction.

Figure 8 illustrates how the elect roluminescent strip 8 has an electrical lead 42 which extends into the board 36. The electrical components that are able to be housed in the board 36 are shown in Figure 10. More specifically, it will be seen that the board 36 houses a battery 26 and an inverter 28. The inverter 28 is connected to a photocell 44 which ensures that the strip of light 6 illuminates automatically when conditions become sufficiently dark, and extinguishes automatically when conditions become sufficiently light.

Figure 11 shows equipment 46 in the form of a barrier. As shown, the barrier comprises an upstanding post 48, from which extends a horizontal board 36. The board 36 is provided with the strip of light 6 and a housing 14 on the surface 40 of the board 36, the housing 14 containing a battery and an inverter.

Figure 12 shows an electrical circuit 50 which is a low power electrical circuit 50 and which is employed for the strip of light 6. The circuit 50 comprises resistors Rl, R2, R4, R5 and R6, capacitors Cl, C2, C3 and C4, transistors Tl and T2, and a transformer TFl. The switch 30 is shown formed by a pair of contacts 52. The capacitors Cl and C2 and the resistor R4 form an oscillator circuit which is completed by the primary of the transformer TFl. The primary of the transformer TF1 is driven by transistor T2. Power for the circuit 50 comes from the battery 26.

The circuit 50 operates such that the inverter 28 is kept in the off position by the resistor R6 which ensures that the transistor Cl is normally in the off condition. When the contacts 52 are made, then the transistor Tl is switched on. The transistor Tl then fires, through the resistor Rl, the oscillator circuit formed by the capacitors Cl, C2 and the resistor R4. The primary of the transformer TFI, oscillator circuit. The primary of TF1 is driven by the transistor T2 completes the the transformer as shown. The completed oscillator circuit is tuned to capacitor C2.

The capacitor C4 removes ripples in the direct current. The capacitor C3 matches the capacitance required for the electroluminescent strip of light 6 and stops the circuit 50 from generating high off load voltages. The resistor R5 adjusts the current required. By using the centre tap to feed back, it is able to create effectively 9v-0-9v with a 9 volt battery.

I 1 The e 1 ect rolumines cent strip 8 illuminates when powered with the alternating current from the inverter 28. The circuit 50 gives a continuous strip of light along the electroluminescent strip 8. if. it is desired to cause the electroluminescent strip 8 to provide a pulsating strip of light, then a timer device (not shown) is appropriately connected in the circuit 50.

Referring to Figure 13, there is shown equipment 2 for use in enabling a vehicle (not shown) to be repaired in safety. For example, if the vehicle has broken down, then the illustrated breakdown vehicle 56 can pull alongside the vehicle and then a hazard warning strip of material 6 can be pulled out from an inertia reel 58 mounted at the rear of the breakdown vehicle 56 as shown. The other end of the strip of material 6 is connected to a traffic cone 70 as shown. The strip of material 6 is provided with a series of hazard warning lights 72. Each hazard warning light 72 is a strip of light which is made of an electroluminescent material. The strip of material 6 may be webbing and it may be made of any suitable and appropriate material.

If desired, the breakdown vehicle 56 may alternatively be an emergency vehicle 56, for example for dealing with a burst water pipe in a road. In 12 this case, the place needing repair and workmen affecting the repair can easily and conveniently be protected by the vehicle 56 and the equipment 2.

Referring now to Figure 14, there is shown equipment 74 which can be used in the construction or repair of buildings, places or vehicles. Similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. It will be seen that the inertia reel 8 is f itted to a post 76. The strip of material 6 extends to another post 78. The lights 12 may be employed as shown in Figure 1. The lights 12 may be connected by interconnecting wires 80.

Referring to Figure 15, there is shown equipment 114 which can be used in the construction of buildings, places or vehicles. The equipment 114 comprises a hazard warning strip of material 106 which is able to be pulled out from an inertia reel 108 fitted to a post 116. The strip of material 106 extends to another post 117.

The strip of material 106 is provided with a series of hazard warning lights 112. Each hazard warning light 112 is a strip of material which is made of an electroluminescent material. The strip of material 106 may be webbing or it may be of any 1 1 13 suitable and appropriate material. The lights 112 may be connected by interconnecting wires 118.

As can be seen from Figure 15, each hazard warning light 112 has a sign or a word or words. The sign or word may give useful information such for example as a warning, a direction or the name of a contractor, repairer or promoter.

The illustrated signs and/or words can be formed by screen printing over otherwise blank hazard warning lights 112. Alternatively, each hazard warning light 112 can be configured to the required shape of the sign or signs, or the word or words.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the item of equipment for use in the construction or repair of buildings or places may be other than the illustrated scaffolding, road cones and barriers. If desired, more than one strip of light 6 may be provided on each item of equipment. The or each strip of light will be able to withstand rough conditions of use and, if cut, power up to the cut point will still cause illumination of the strip of light 6 up to the cut point. Still further, the strip of light will provide more light for visibility 14 purposes than would be obtained with a directional light beam such for example as a conventional battery operated lamp giving a point source of light which is currently attached to equipment such for example as scaffolding, road cones and barriers. Still further, if the equipment of the present invention is run over, then the strip of light is unlikely to break. Thus the equipment of the present invention is extremely robust in use.

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Claims

CLAIMS.

1. Equipment for use in the construction or repair of buildings, places or vehicles, which equipment is provided with at least one hazard warning light, the hazard warning light being such that it is a strip of light which is made of an electroluminescent material.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 in which the strip of light is flexible.

3. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the equipment is scaffolding, and the strip of light is bent around a tube forming part of the scaffolding.

4. Equipment according to claim 3 in which the scaffolding is in the form of scaffolding assembled on site or scaffolding in the form of a work tower.

5. Equipment according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the strip of light is wrapped around the tube.

6. Equipment according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the strip of light is in the form of a sleeve which is slid over the tube.

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7. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2 and which is in the form of a road cone, the strip of light extending around the road cone.

8. Equipment according to claim 7 in which the strip of light is in the form of a frusto-cone which is slid over the road cone.

9. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the strip of light is in the form of a barrier.

10. Equipment according to claim 9 in which the strip of light extends along a horizontal part of the barrier.

11. Equipment according to claim 9 in which the strip of light extends around a vertical part of the barrier.

12. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strip of light is battery powered.

13. Equipment according to claim 12 in which the strip of light is battery powered via an inverter.

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14. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the hazard warning light is mounted on a strip of material, and the strip of material is in roll form on a reel.

15. Equipment according to claim 14 in which the strip of material is manually rolled on the reel.

16. Equipment according to claim 14 in which the reel is an inertia reel such that the strip of material can automatically roll up when it is no longer required in its un-rolled form for hazard warning purposes.

17. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strip of light is arranged to give a continuous light or a pulsing light.

18. Equipment according to claim 17 and including an electrical circuit for the strip of light, the electrical circuit being such as to cause the strip of light to emit the continuous light or the pulsing light.

19. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the electroluminescent material comprising a dielectric layer with a lightemitting 18 phosphor layer sandwiched between two conducting surfaces.

20. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hazard warning light is such that it bears printing.

21. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 - 19 in which the strip of light is configured to the shape of at least one sign and/or at least one word.

22. Equipment for use in the construction or repair of buildings, places or vehicles, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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